Apparatus for drafting textile fibers



March 30, 1954 G. H. AMBLER APPARATUS FOR DRAF TING TEXTILE FIBERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 5, 1951 I nventor FIG.2.

FTGE. GEOFFREY HI LL. AMBLEZ.

. y I fiitomeyf March 30, 1954 H. AMBLER APPARATUS FOR DRAFTING TEXTILE FIBERS 2 Sheets-Shae? Filed March 5 1951 F IG.4.

Inventor FIG] GEOFFREY Hum. AMBLER.

Patented Mar. 30, 1954 UNITED s'rAr APPARATUS FOR DRAFTIN G TEXTILE FIBERS Geoffrey Hill Ambler, Ilkley, England, assignor to Ambler Superdraft Limited, Yorkshire, England, a British company Application March 5, 1951, Serial No. 213,936

Claims priority, application Great Britain March 27, 1950 6 Claims.

This invention relates to drafting apparatus for the drafting of textile fibres in the form of rovings or the like containing a, small amount of twist, the apparatus being intended for use in carrying out the method of drafting described in applicants co-pending application Serial No. 151,136, filed March 22, 1950, on which Patent No. 2,641,026 was granted June 9, 1953, said application having been a continuation-in-part of applioants application Serial No. 18,524, filed April 2, 1948, now abandoned in favor of the application for said patent. The apparatus includes feed and intermediate rollers, and may also include a channel shaped member or fiume as described in the specification mentioned above. An object of the invention is to provide a compact unitary structure consisting of certain parts of the apparatus and capable of ready attachment to the main drafting apparatus.

According tothe present invention, there is provided a unitary structure, comprising a main body adapted for attachment to a drafting apparatus, a pair of feed rollers rotatably mounted in the body towards one end thereof, a pair of intermediate rollers rotatably mounted in the body towards the other end, and gearing for connecting at least one each of the feed and intermediate rollers to driving gear in the drafting apparatus. The feed and intermediate rollers are conveniently driven from a common driving shaft in the apparatus.

For the purpose of allowing the initial twist in the roving continuously to pass through the nip of the feed rollers, one of the feed rollers, e. g., the lower one, is preferably provided with a pair of flanges between which the other roller runs and rests on the roving passing between them, pressure being applied, e. g, by spring means, to one of the rollers to provide the force necessary to grip the roving.

For the same reason, one of the intermediate rollers, e. g., the lower one, is also formed with a pair of flanges between which the other roller fits closely and rests on the roving passing between the flanges, the upper roller being weighted to provide the necessary pressure at the nip.

Roving guides are preferably arranged on the main body for leading the rovin into the nips of the feed and intermediate rollers.

A fiume may be mounted on the main body forwardly of the intermediate rollers for the purpose described in the specification mentioned above, and a similar member may be mounted on the main body between the feed and inter- -""mediate'rollers.

For convenienc in threading the roving, the upper feed roller is preferably rotatably mounted in a supporting bracket pivotably mounted on the main body, so as to be capable of swinging upwardly clear of the lower roller. Preferably, the upper intermediate roller is similarly mounted.

Normally, the feed rollers are spaced from the intermediate rollers by an amount suflicient to allow the intermediate rollers to be arranged as close as possible to the drafting rollers (as required for the highest drafts) while still leavin the distance between the feed and drafting rollers slightly greater than the longest fibres in the roving to be drafted. In this manner, fibre breakage is avoided at any setting of the apparatus.

When drafting fibres of short staple such as cotton, the minimum distance required between the feed and drafting rollers is such that a very compact unit can be designed, andfor this reason, the invention is exceptionally suitable for use in the drafting of cotton fibres.

By way of example, a drafting apparatus equipped with unitary structures (hereinafter referred to as units) according to the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the salient features of the draftin apparatus, showing a unit in operative position;

Figure 2 is a part-sectional plan of the unit shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a part-sectional rear end view of the unit;

Figure 4 is an elevation of one side of the unit with parts of the structure broken away;

Figure 5 is a similar elevation of the opposite side of the unit;

Figure 6 is a perspective diagram showing the gearing for driving the intermediate and feed rollers; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view showing part of the unit.

Referring first to Figure 1, a roving l l is passed through a feed guide 52 to the nip of a pair of feed rollers I3 and I 4, then through an intermediate guide [5 to the nip of a pair of intermediate rollers and H, and from there through a flume l8 to the nip of a pair of drafting rollers 19 and it from which it passes in the form of a yarn 22 to the bobbin of a spinning device of known construction.

The guide I2, feed rollers l3 and I4, guide l5, intermediate rollers l6 and I1, flume I 8 and gearing for-driving-the feed and intermediate rollers are all mounted in a self-contained unit according to the invention (indicated generally in Figure 1 by reference numeral 23) which, as will be seen from later description, is readily detachable as a whole from the drafting apparatus for cleaning, repair or replacement purposes.

The unit 23 is supported in the drafting apparatus by means of a semi-circular bearing surface 24 formed on the lower surface of the main body 26 of the unit and arranged to rest on the upper surface of a bearing member 2'! forming part of the drafting apparatus, the bearing member being secured to a support 28 extending lengthwise of the apparatus.

The lower intermediate roller I1 is formed with a pair of flanges 29 between which the upper roller l6 flts closely and rests on the roving ll passing between the flanges. The roller H is formed integrally with .a shaft '3l rotatably mounted inbearingsin the main body '26, a. gear 32 being secured to one end of the shaft. 3| .and arranged in engagement with a rear 33 secured to a countershaft 3d rotatably mounted in the body 26. 'At th other end of 'the countershaft 34 is secured a gear 35 which drives the upper intermediate roller I through an idler gear 31 and a gear 38 secured to the adjacent end of the shaft 39 of the roller-l6. The gear .33 is arranged in engagement with a main driving gear H secured to a common driving shaft 42 forming part of the drafting apparatus.

The upper intermediate roller IE5 is rotatably mounted in a supporting bracket 33 pivoted at 44 on the body 26 in such a position that as the bracket 43 is pivoted outwardly to the open position (shown in chain dotted lines in Figure 5) the gear 38 is causedto roll to some extent around the idler gear 31 as it moves outv of engagement therewith. Removable weights 49 aresecured to the bracket 43 for supplying the necessary pressure "between the intermediate rollers l6 and I1. Cover plates 41 are arranged to slide into suitable recesses in the body v23 for enclosing the gearing.

The intermediateguide I5 is formed with a pair of projections 48 by means of which it is positioned in the body 23, the projections 48 engaging (with a sliding fit) slots 49 formed in the body 26. The guide is locked in position by a ball 5| (see Figure 2) housed in the body 25 and arranged to engage a recess 52 formed in'the adjacent projection 48, the ball being retained in position by a tongue 53 on a wedge member 54. The lower front surface of the guide I5 is cut away to clear th flanges 29 of the lower roller IT, a projecting tongue 59 (see Figure 1) being left to carry the base of the guide close to the roller IT.

The flume I8 is formed with a pair of extending feet 5! by which it is supported in a pair of slots 58 formed in extending portions 59 of the body 26. The flume I8 is retained in position by a pair of leaf springs 6| secured to the extending portionsbs and bearing on the feet 51. If the flume is not'required, therefore, it will be seen to be quite a simple operation to remove it from the unit and to replace it when required.

The lower feed roller I4 is fluted and is formed integrally with its shaft 62, the shaft being rotatably mounted in bearing members 63 and 64 inserted into the body 26. Like the lower intermediate roller H, the lower feed roller M is pro- ;vided with arpair-of flanges '69 between --which the upper feed roller rnns thefianges beingeonroller M by a pair of springs ticularly Figures 1 and 3).

stituted by the opposing faces of a pair of collars 61 pinned to the shaft 62. The faces are curved outwardly to allow smooth entry of the roving. Secured to one end of the shaft 62 is ;a gear 68 by which the shaft 62 is driven through gears 69, 1|, and 12, from the gear 33 on the countershaft 34. The gear 99 is an idler gear freely mounted ona stud 13 serving also to support one sid of the pivoted bracket 43, while the gears H and 12 are secured to a common shaft 14 rotatably mounted in the body 26.

The upper feed roller I3 is freely mounted in a forked supporting bracket 16 pivotally mounted on a-pair of pins 'l'i protruding from the body .26 (and serving also to attach the unit to the drafting apparatus, as described below), the upper rollers l3 being urged towards the lower 18 each attached at one end to a pin 19 secured in the bracket 16 and at the other end to a pin 8| secured to an abutment member 82 bearing freely against a face on the body 25. The upper feed roller |3 may thus be swung clear of the lower feed roller M (as shown in Figure 5) the springs '18 serving to retain the roller |3 in its inoperative position.

The bracket 16 also carries the feed guide I2 which is freely pivoted on the pin 19. The guide I2 is formed with a channel 83 of substantially rectangular cross-section, the channel 83 being inverted and formed with a pair of opposed lips 84 partially closing the open side of the channel leaving a narrow gap 86 for threading purposes. The channel is flared at the inlet and, to a somewhat lesser extent, at the outlet.

The unit 23 is attached to the drafting apparatus by the pins 11 which are slidably mounted in the body 26 and arranged to engage a corresponding pair of holes in a saddle member 8'! forming part of the drafting apparatus (see par- The pins 11 are actuated (to release the unit from the saddlemember 81) by inward pressure on a pair of leaf spring members 88 secured at 89 to the body '26. The pins are reduced at 9| to form spaced shoulders so as to allow the spring members 88 to make a slight inward movement without withdrawing the pins H from the saddle member 81, thus allowing the spring members 88 to engage projections 92 (see Figure 3) on the bracket 43 when swung into. open position. The spring members 88 thus act also as spring clips for retaining the bracket 43 in open position.

The saddle member 87 is in the form of a'frame embracing an extension 93 of the bearing member 21 in which is slidably mounted a pair of rods 94 and 95, the saddle member 81 being attached to ,the rods on each side of the. extension '93. The

saddle member 87 (with its attached unit 23) may thus be traversed bodily in a direction parallel to the drafting roller axesby movement of the rods 93 and 95 in the extension 93.

As applied to a spinning frame of normal construction, one unit 23 is provided for each spindle on the frame. It is found convenient, however, to mount the units in sections each having a common support 28, and a common rod95 provided with traversing mechanism (not shown). A bearing member 21 is provided for each unit and the end bearing members in each section serve also .as bearings for the common driving shaft 42 to which is secured a series of the gears 4| for driving the units, the common shaft. 42

The gears 4| are arranged between..the. ;b earing members 21 and each serves to drive two units (by engaging the gear 36 of one unit and the gear 33 of an adjacent unit) as illustrated in Figure 6. The ratio of the gearing between the intermediate and feed rollers is such that the intermediate rollers have a peripheral speed slightly reater than that of the feed rollers.

The supports 28 of the various sections are connected to a common adjusting mechanism (not shown) by means of which the units as a whole may be adjusted towards and away from the drafting rollers, as required for different degrees of draft.

What I claim is:

1. Drafting apparatus comprising a roving support, drafting rollers, a saddle member mounted in the apparatus between the roving support and the drafting rollers for traversing movement, and a detachable unitary structure comprising a main body, means in said body for detachably mounting it on the saddle member, a pair of feed rollers rotatably mounted in the body towards one end thereof, means on the body for pressing one of the feed rollers towards the other to provide the force necessary to grip a roving passing between the rollers, a first intermediate roller r0- tatably mounted in the body towards the other end thereof, a second intermediate roller adapted to co-operate with the first intermediate roller to receive a roving from the feed rollers and urge it forward, a supporting bracket in which the second roller is rotatably mounted, the bracket being pivotally mounted on the body so as to allow the second roller to be swung clear of the first roller, weighting means on the bracket for supplying pressure at the nip of the first and second intermediate rollers, gearing in the unit for connecting at least one each of the feed and intermediate rollers, said gearing being adapted to engage a driving gear on the drafting apparatus.

2. Drafting apparatus as specified in claim 1, and having flanges formed on one of the intermediate rollers between which flanges the other intermediate roller fits closely and rests on a roving passing between the flanges, the said gearing driving both intermediate rollers at a peripheral speed slightly in excess of that of the feed rollers, and a fiume mounted on the main body immediately in front of the intermediate rollers.

3. Drafting apparatus as specified in claim 2, comprising a second supporting bracket in which the upper feed roller is rotatably mounted, the second bracket being pivotally mounted on the body so as to allow the upper feed roller to be swung clear of the lower feed roller.

4. Drafting apparatus as specified in claim 3, and in which flanges are formed on one of the feed rollers between which flanges the other feed roller fits closely and rests on a roving passage between the flanges.

5. Drafting apparatus as specified in claim 1, in which flanges are formed on one of the intermediate rollers between which flanges the other intermediate roller fits closely and rests on a roving passing between the flanges, and in which gearing is provided for driving both intermediate rollers at a peripheral speed slightly in excess of that of the feed rollers.

6. A detachable unitary structure for a drafting apparatus comprising a main body adapted to be located in the drafting apparatus between a roving support and drafting rollers, a pair of spring-loaded pins slidably mounted in the main body for detachably mounting it on the drafting apparatus, a pair of feed rollers rotatably mounted in the body towards one end thereof, means on the body for pressing one of the feed rollers towards the other to provide the force necessary to grip a roving passing between the rollers, a, first intermediate roller rotatably mounted in the body towards the other end thereof, a second intermediate roller adapted to co-operate with the first intermediate roller to receive a roving from the feed rollers and urge it forward, a supporting bracket in which the second roller is rotatably mounted, the bracket being pivotally mounted on the body so as to allow the second roller to be swung clear of the first roller, weighting means on the bracket for supplying pressure at the nip of the first and second intermediate rollers, gearing in the unit for connecting at least one each of the feed and intermediate rollers, said gearing being adapted to engage a driving ear on the drafting apparatus.

GEOFFREY HILL AMBLER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,433,529 Butler Oct. 31, 1922 1,586,605 Butler June 1, 1926 1,685,838 Dlttmar Oct. 2, 1928 2,100,139 Honda Nov. 23, 1937 2,132,299 Jackson Oct. 4, 1938 2,238,659 Reynolds Apr. 15, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 107,328 Great Britain June 28, 1917 

